Calhoun County Sheriff Steve Hinkley would like to thank Ford Motor Company Chicago Assembly, Body Department, Paint Department, and the PVT and Summit Polymers Vicksburg for facilitating the generous donation of the "Body in White." This vehicle body shell will serve as a crucial training aid for the Calhoun County Sheriff's Office Dive Team and the Southeast Michigan Dive Group. It allows the team to conduct realistic training scenarios for all participating agencies.
The utilization of an actual vehicle in the Group's training exercises not only allows the specialized team to simulate real-world situations but also ensures minimal environmental impact. This specialized tool will empower divers to practice and refine rescue and recovery techniques, directly applicable in time-sensitive callouts, ultimately contributing to the preservation of lives.
Deputy Andy Erard, who leads the Sheriff's Office's Dive Team, has volunteered countless hours in rescues, recoveries, training, and obtaining state of the art equipment and technology for the team. His coordination with Ford Motor Company Chicago Assembly and Summit Polymers Vicksburg made this opportunity possible.
The Southeast Michigan Dive Group was formed in May of 2022 and is the largest mutual aid response dive group in Michigan and one of the largest in the country. The Dive Group is available 24/7, 365 days a year to provide a professional response and/or support for water rescues and recovery incidents throughout Southeast Michigan. In addition, the Southeast Michigan Dive Group is available to assist throughout the state upon request. The Southeast Michigan Dive Group responds with trained personnel and specialized equipment to the scene of a water-related incident for the purpose of saving a life, provide underwater recovery of drowning victims or accident victims in the water and to aid detective bureaus in the recovery of property to be processed as evidence in a criminal investigation. The Southeast Michigan Dive Group is comprised of approximately 282 divers and more than 176 support personnel. All members received numerous hours of training with their agencies as well as additional specialized training within the group.
Pictured in the photo above are (L-R) Sheriff Steve Hinkley, Deputy Andy Erard, and Emergency Manager Lt. Chris Young. Click the photos for larger versions.
